8 Critically Acclaimed Movies That Are Basically Unwatchable

1. Tree of Life (2011)

Oh, the hype this one had. A way-too-long tale that goes from the Big Bang to a 1950s family in Texas. There's Brad Pitt as the strict dad, Sean Penn as the adult son, and Jessica Chastain as the ethereal mom. What's it about? Good question. Pitt's character is controlling and emotionally distant. Sean Penn looks like he's constantly contemplating the meaning of life. And there are dinosaurs.

2. The Master (2012)

Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman, both acting powerhouses, should make this a surefire hit. Phoenix plays Freddie, a naval vet struggling with PTSD and alcoholism. He meets Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman), a charismatic leader of a cult-like organization. The movie pretty much revolves around Freddie being subjected to Dodd's "processing", a form of psychological interrogation. Riveting? Well, that's debatable, to say the least.

3. Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Philip Seymour Hoffman again, this time as a theater director named Caden. His life is falling apart; his marriage ends, and he's plagued by various illnesses. He wins a MacArthur Grant and decides to create a detailed replica of New York City inside a warehouse, with actors playing out real-life situations. You'd think this Truman Show-esque plot would be captivating, but it's... well, not.

4. Under the Skin (2013)

Scarlett Johansson as an alien who seduces men to harvest their organs should be a win, right? She drives around Scotland in a van, picking up men. After luring them into her lair, they're sucked into a liquid abyss. If that sounds confusing, it's because it is. It has stunning visuals, sure, but it's like watching a two-hour-long music video without the actual music.

5. Inland Empire (2006)

David Lynch, the king of weird, presents us with this three-hour odyssey starring Laura Dern as Nikki, an actress who takes on a new role in a movie cursed by a Polish folk tale. How cursed, you ask? As Nikki becomes more immersed in her role, reality and fiction blend until she's not sure who she is anymore. There are rabbits in business suits, a sitcom laugh track, and scenes that seem like they're from a different movie. If you manage to stay awake, you'll spend the next week wondering what on earth you just watched.

6. Enter the Void (2009)

This French drama takes you on a first-person journey through the Tokyo nightlife as experienced by Oscar, an American drug dealer. After he's killed in a drug bust gone wrong, we follow his soul as it floats over the city, observing the lives of those he left behind. Sure, it's visually spectacular. But you'll probably find yourself wishing for the sweet release of the end credits as you float through seemingly never-ending scenes of neon debauchery.

7. Dogtooth (2009)

A husband and wife keep their adult children confined in their fenced compound, lying to them about the dangers of the outside world. The only person allowed in is a woman who sleeps with the son to satisfy his sexual needs. She's paid with stickers. Yes, stickers. The kids have no concept of the outside world – they think cats are dangerous creatures and airplanes are tiny toys falling from the sky. It's disturbing, but also, why this film even exists?

8. Holy Motors (2012)

A French film that's bizarre even by French standards. Leos Carax gives us a day in the life of Monsieur Oscar, a man who travels around Paris in a limousine to perform various "assignments", each more bizarre than the last. He transforms into different characters, from a beggar woman to a motion-capture artist. It's like an anthology film where all the stories are strung together by the thinnest of threads. Critics adored it, but average viewers might feel like they're stuck in a surrealist nightmare.